Bougainvillea plant named ‘IREBABS2’

ABSTRACT

A  Bougainvillea  plant particularly distinguished by a rounded, low growing, prostrate, and spreading shrub and having rose-colored bracts, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.

Variety denomination: ‘IREBABS2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofBougainvillea, botanically known as Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra, andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘IREBABS2’. The new varietyoriginated from an open-pollination between the female Bougainvillea‘Kayata’ (unpatented) and unknown male Bougainvillea in October 1996. Asingle plant selection was subsequently chosen in May 1998 for furtherevaluation and asexual propagation.

The new plant was first asexually propagated October 1998 in Brisbane,Australia and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings for numerousgenerations in Brisbane, Australia. The present invention has been foundto retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations by cuttings.

‘IREBABS2’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Brisbane, Australia.

-   -   1. A rounded, low growing, prostrate, and spreading shrub; and    -   2. Having rose-colored bracts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Bougainvillea plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall habit, foliage, reproductive organsand colored bracts of the plant. The colors are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of an approximately ten-year-old plant grown outdoors inBrisbane, Australia.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up the foliage, flower buds, colored bracts, andgrey-yellow and grey-purple flowers taken in May 2014.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up a single bract and the reproductive organs takenin May 2014.

FIG. 3 shows the overall plant habit of ‘IREBABS2’ taken in June 2014.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘IREBABS2’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBrisbane, Australia. The plant history was taken in May 2013 on ten-yearold plants grown outdoors in Brisbane, Australia. Color references weretaken under natural light and are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S. 2005).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Nyctaginaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.        -   Common name.—Bougainvillea.        -   Denomination.—‘IREBABS2’.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Shrub and perennial (in warmer climates).        -   Form.—Rounded.        -   Habit.—Low growing, prostrate, and spreading.        -   Appropriate containers.—Commercial pots of all sizes.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 weeks from a            cutting.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Vigor.—Good — strong.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—60.0 cm to 70.0            cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—Up to 100.0 cm.        -   Pinching required.—Yes, at liner stage.        -   Propagation type.—Cuttings.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Horizontal.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.7 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Aspect.—Horizontal.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—RHS 191A.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Thorns.—General: Minimal and mainly on older wood and last            season growth. Size: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm in length. Quantity: 2            per inch. Color: RHS 191A (Greyed-Green).-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Strong.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—28 to 30.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Smooth, entire.        -   Length.—5.0 cm to 5.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.9 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS            137C.        -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS            138A.        -   Texture.—Both upper and lower surfaces: Smooth.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS            138A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.1 cm to 1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to            0.15 cm. Color: RHS 138A.-   Spines: Present.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   General.—Flowers all along the branch — branchlets with            flowers at each node.        -   Width.—15.0 cm to 15.6 cm.        -   Bud.—Shape: Urn-shaped. Length: 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm. Diameter:            0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Color: RHS 59A.        -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single flowers arranged in axillary            panicles; flowers are upright and self-cleaning; ruffled at            the base. Fragrance: Absent. Aspect: Upright. Flowering            season: Profuse flowering; flowers in autumn, the spring and            regions with mild winters. Diameter: 2.3 cm to 2.5 cm.            Depth: 2.6 cm to 2.9. Quantity per lateral stem: About 87            to 90. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 8 to 10.            Flower: General: Flower throat is tubular in shape, slender;            Bougainvillea inflorescence consists of three fused and            colored bracts with three flowers having fused petals.            Length: 1.8 cm to 2.0 cm. Color, immature, outer surface,            closed: RHS 184B with RHS 184C at the top. Color, mature,            fully opened: Outer surface: RHS 162C (Greyed-Yellow) with            rays of RHS 184D (Greyed-Purple). Inner surface: RHS 160B to            RHS 160D (Greyed-Yellow) with RHS 145B (Green) and RHS 184D            (Greyed-Purple) striations between the fused petals. Bracts:            Quantity per flower: 1 flower per bract in group of 3.            Length: 3.0 cm to 3.2 cm. Width: 2.6 cm to 2.8 cm. Shape:            Broadly ovate. Apex: Shortly acuminate. Base: Cordate.            Margin: Entire. Texture (upper and lower surfaces): Velvety.            Color, when opening: Upper surface: RHS 58A. Lower surface:            RHS 61A. Color, when open: Upper surface: RHS 180A. Lower            surface: RHS 61C. Fading to: RHS 180C. Peduncle: Length: 1.6            cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm. Angle: 25°.            Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 138B. Pedicel: Length: 3.0 cm            to 3.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to 0.17 cm. Angle: 30°.            Strength: Moderate. Color: RHS 138B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Anther color.—RHS 155A (White).        -   Pollen color.—Too small to determine.        -   Number of pistils per flower.—1.        -   Pistil length.—0.7 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Tapering wedge shape.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 151A (Yellow-Green).        -   Style length.—3.0 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 151A (Yellow-Green).        -   Ovary color.—RHS 151A (Yellow-Green).-   Fruit and seed set: Rarely observed, but 1 seed per flower if    fertile; 0.3 cm length, 0.13 cm diameter, RHS 177D.-   Disease and insect resistance: No specific disease or insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘IREBABS2’ differs from the female Bougainvillea parent ‘Kayata’(unpatented) in that ‘Kayata’ has a taller growing plant habit than‘IREBABS2’.

‘IREBABS2’ differs from the commercial comparison ‘Kasumi’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,113) in that ‘IREBABS2’ has rose-colored bracts, while‘Kasumi’ has salmon-pink bracts.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Bougainvillea plant asillustrated and described herein.